Sheet feed device



April! 13, 1937. o. KLElNscHMrr ET AL 2,076,995

` SHEET FEED DEVICE Filed May 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SHEET FEED DEVICE Filed May 9, 1954 4 Sheets-Shee April 13, 1937- qf'KLElNscHMl-r E-r Al.

l SHEET FEED DEVICE Filed May 9, 19454 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 13, 1937. o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,076,996

SHEET FEED DEVI CE Filed May 9, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apro 139 1937 UNITED lSTATES Plag'witz, Germany,

assignors to Gebruder Brehmer, Leipzig-Plagwitz, Germany, a limited partnership of Germany Application May 9, 1934, Serial No. 724,815 In Germany May 16, 1933 19 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to sheet feed devices for use in placing folded sheets, signatures or book sections straddlewisevupon a pivotal sheet carrier such as, for example, the reciprocatory stitching saddle of a machine for assembling and stitching books or continuously stitchedbookpads in which, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the stitching saddle usually is pivotally mounted and adapted to assume alternately a work laying-on position and a stitching position beneath the stitching means.

In the operation of machines ofthis type the work, hereinafter referred to as the folded sheet, is fed to the sheet saddle or carrier by hand or mechanically when the saddle is inthe laying-on position and the latter thereupon is swung into the stitching position beneath the stitching means so that the folded sheet is stitched and thus attached to the previously stitched book or bookpad. In the subsequent movement of the saddle thus is retained in its stitching position and the last mentioned movement of the saddle is an idle one. Despite moving the saddle to the open position with all possible speed the sheet feeding or laying-on operation must of .necessity be suspended while the saddle is in the stitching position and also during all or the major part of its idle stroke.

It is already known in so-called semi-automatic stitching machines to extend the length of the laying-on period in any given speed of revolution of such a machine by the use of a rigid auxiliary table constantly stationary in the laying-on position of the stitching saddle and from which the work ls passed to the saddle by means of a pusher member which is actuated when the stitching saddle and auxiliary table are contiguous.

Moreover, in wire stitching or stapling machines of the stationary stitching-saddle type it is well known to employ an endless conveyor belt or chain in association with the stitching saddle and equipped with pusher fingers which engage folded sheets placed straddlewise over the conveyor so that the folded sheets are brought beneath. the wire stitching head either singly or assembled in book form.

The object of the present invention is to provide a modified arrangement of a travelling conveyor a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle of a book stitching machine.

According to the present invention provision is.

to the laying-on position the last stitched sheetA i'or use in placing folded sheets straddlewise upon or stitching saddle, which comprises a travelling conveyor contiguous with the sheet laying-on position of the stitching saddle, and arranged to advance the work towards the stitching saddle, and an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from. the conveyor to the stitching saddle.

A book-stitching machine oi the kind referred to may be constructed according to this invention so that the sheets are transferred from the travelling conveyor to the stitching saddle during the opening movement of the latter and/or when the opening movement is terminated.

In moving the sheets vfrom the travelling conveyor member to the stitching saddle the auxiliary displacing member may be actuated intermittently or in a continuous movement periodically varied in speed in such manner that the sheet engaged thereby is first moved gradually and then at greatly increased speed so as to arrive on the saddle prior to the commencement of the next feeding movement of 'the latter; the saddle is preferably provided with a registering stop or lay to determine the position of the work thereon.

Moreover, an adhesive-applying device may be associated with the sheet-feed device so that adhesive is applied to each sheet or selected sheets so fed to the pivotal sheet saddle.

In order that the application ci the invention may readily be understood, a constructional embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 1a taken together show an elevational view of a book-stitching machine of the pivotal sheet carrier type arranged as shown in the present construction for producing a continuously thread-stitched book pad, and provided with sheet-feed and adhesive-applying means according to the present invention;

Fig. 2` is an elevational view of the machine looking in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. l)

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View showing the sheet-feed device of the machine and adhesiveapplying arrangement associated therewith;

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically the relative positions of the stitching saddle and sheet conveyor chain when the extremity of the saddle is rst brought into the path of the sheet displaced from the chain;

Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe adhesive-applying device drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view showing the relative positions of the sheet feeding members in the displacement of a sheet from the conveyor chain to the saddle;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the adhesiveapplying device shown in Fig. and

Fig. 8 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to Figs. la and 2, the machine as' shown comprises upright frame members 30, a, serving to support a multiple stitcher head H which is suitably positioned above a book-pad' trough 3i wherein the book-pad P is progressed during its formation. A pair of supporting arms 32, pivotally secured at their lower extremities to a substantially horizontal bearing shaft 32a, carry at their upper, free extremities the stitching saddle S. The arms 32 and saddle S are movable in an arcuate path about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 32a so as alternately to assume the stitching and work-laying-on position shown in full and chain dotted lines respectively in Fig. 2. In usual manner the saddle S is rocked about its axis in a reciprocatory movement through the medium of cam grooved discs 40 which are mounted upon a driven shaft 35. The shaft 35 is journalled in the side frames 30, 30a, and driven, by means not shown, from the main drive of the machine and in timed relation to the actuation of the stitcher head. Rigid extensions 32b of the saddle arms 32 carry cam followers or rollers h which engage the cam grooves 40a so that in the timed rotation of the shaft 35 and discs 4B the saddle arms 32 and saddle S are reciprocated to and from the stitching position beneath the thread stitching needles of the stitcher head H. Although it should clearly be understood that the present invention can readily be carried into effect with a stitching saddle of the usual shape, i. e., having its ends square cut at right angles to the longitudinal edges thereof, the shape of the saddle is modified in the present construction as hereinafter described.

The sheet conveyor device C, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is arranged continuously with the open or sheet laying-on position of the saddle S and in this constructional embodiment is constituted as follows. Chain sprockets 4I, 42 and 43 are set in a vertical plane which extends parallel with the apical ridge of the saddle S. The follower sprocket 4I and driven sprocket 42 are supported by a bearing bracket 4'6 which is secured to the left hand frame member 30 as viewed in Fig. 1a, the follower sprocket 4I being mounted upon a stub shaft journalled in the bracket 46 while the driver sprocket 42 is keyed to one extremity of a driven shaft 45, the latter, which extends transversely of Vthe machine, being journalled in suitable bearings supported by brackets projecting outwards from the frame member 3l). The follower sprocket 43 is journalled in a bearing block i3a which is slidably mounted in a bracket 44a supported at a distance from the frame member 33 by a rigid upwardly inclined gantry 44, the lower end of the latter being secured to the frame member 30. The bearing block 43a has lateral shoulders which slidably engage suitable slots formed in the bracket 44a; adjustment of the bearing block is achieved by means of the set screw 43h which engages a suitably threaded hole in the bracket 44a and passes therethrough to engage the block 43a (as shown in Figs 1 and 3) An endless conveyor chain 33 comprising pivotally linked members 33a of inverted V-shape in crosssection passes around the sprockets 4I, 42 and 43 so that the upperrun of the chain extending between the sprockets 42, 43 is substantially horizontal and parallel with the apical ridge of the saddle, the sprocket 42 being so positioned that the upper stretch of the chain 33 at its right hand extremity as viewed in Fig. 1 passes downwardly at a point immediately adjacent the arcuate path of travel of the left hand extremity of the saddle S and then to some extent upwardly and beneath the saddle. The tension of the chain 33 is adjusted as desired by the manipulation of the set screw 43h. As clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, the left hand extremity of the saddle S is outwardly extended longitudinally thereof, the apical ridge and lower edges of the extension being suitably curved downwardly and inwardly respectively to form a beak 23. As indicated in Fig. 4 the beak 23 extends upwardly to the apical ridge of the stitching saddle proper while the curvature of the corresponding end of the front plate S1 of the saddle S is such that in the arcuate rise and fall movement of the saddle S the curved end of the plate Si clears the downwardly moving underhang of the chain 33 while remaining closely adjacent thereto. A pair of horizontal deflecting rails or bars I4, I5 are associated with the upper stretch of the chain 33 and spaced to either side thereof to deflect outwardly and thus hold apart the limbs of the folded sheets or signatures placed upon the chain. ranged somewhat below the upper stretch of the conveyor chain 33 (Fig. 2) and substantially parallel and close set at their outer extremities while flared outwards to la wider spacing adjacent the stitching saddle. extremities in this embodiment by cross pieces attached to the bearing bracket 44a and the appropriate frame member 30. As indicated in Fig. 4 the beak 23 of the saddle S when approaching the conveyor chain 33. in moving to the open position, lies slightly beneath the level of the distended limbs ofthe sheet lying open upon the chain 33 and struts I4, I5. Selected members 33a of the chain 33 are provided with pusher fingers 34 which are evenly spaced along the length of the conveyor chain and serve positively to engage and move the sheets along the rails I4, I5 towards the saddle S. The pusher fingers 34 and/or the chain members 33a bearing such fingers may be adjusted or repositioned along the length of the chain in well known manner according to the size of the work to be handled.

The conveyor chain is driven in timed accordance with the movement of the stitching saddle and at such speed that the chain travels a distance equal to the pitch (i. e., the distance between the sheet-engaging faces) of the fingers 34 during each stitching cycle of the machine. To this end the left hand extremity of the drive shaft 35 (as viewed in Figs. 1 and la) is extended to carry a keyed bevel gear 36 which meshes with a similar bevel gear 31; the latter being keyed to a stub shaft 22 journalled in a bearing bracket 22a secured and projecting outwardly from the frame member 30. The shaft 22 also has keyed thereto a gear wheel 31a which drives through an idler gear wheel 3Ib a further gear wheel 45a which is keyed to the shaft 45. Thus the conveyor chain is driven in timed relation to the main drive of the machine and the speed of the conveyor chain may be varied if desired by interchanging the readily accessible gear train 31a, 31h and 45a.

The auxiliary sheet displacing member associated with the conveyor chain 33 as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 comprises an upwardly extending pivotal lever II, rigidly secured at its lower extremity to a rocking shaft I3 which is journalled in a suitable bearing bracket secured to the ma- The rails preferably are ar- The rails are supported at their 1' being keyed to the shaft 22.

chine frame member 30 (Fig. la), and forked at its upper extremity to provide a sheet-engaging member I2 which embraces the conveyor chain 33 (Fig. 2). The shaft I8 also has rigidly secured thereto an arm I8 which carries at its free extremity a cam follower or trailer 39 arranged to trail the cammed edge of a cam disc 38, the latter A helical tension spring I3 secured to the lever II and the bracket 46 urges the lever I I to rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1) when permitted to do so by the rotary setting of the cam disc 38. Normally, i. e., when inoperative, the formed sheetengaging member I2 lies beneath the level of the sheet limbs distended upon the conveyor chain 33 and rails I4, I5. In the rotation of the cam disc 38, the arm II and sheet-engaging member I2 are caused periodically to move in an arcuate path of reciprocatory movement to engage and displace each sheet from the chain 33 to the saddle S and then return to its initial position. By reason of the contour of the cam disc 38 the displacement of the sheet from the chain is performed initially at a speed slightly in excess of the conveyor chain speed and then at a rapidly accelerated speed. The lever II and/or arm I may be adjustably secured to the shaft I8, as by set screws or split clamping collars (not shown), to permit the ad-A justment thereof in accordance with thesize of the work to be fed and desired throw of the sheetengaging member 32.

, the auxiliary sheet displacing member I2 so that the sheets fed to the stitching saddle are precisely positioned for the stitching thereof.

The operation of this constructional embodiment of the invention is as follows. The drive of the stitching saddle S is set so that the saddle pauses for a given period in its fully open or laying-on position while the adjustable members of the sheet-conveyor device C are set according to the size of the sheets to be stitched so that the forward or right hand edge of each sheet carried by the conveyor chain 33 reaches a position closely adjacent the path of travel of the Abeak 23 of the stitching saddle when the saddle-lis moving towards the open position and has reached the position shown in Fig. 4. The conveyor chain 33 may be of any desired length or in other words may have any desired number of laying-on stations simultaneously available upon the upper stretch of the conveyor chain 33; the sheets or signatures may be laid upon the chain at any or all of the stations either manually or by automatic feeding means. Assuming that an opened folded sheet or signature is placed outside the chain conveyor between two pusher lingers 34, the nger to the left hand side of the sheet (as shown in Fig. 1) will be moved by the constantly travelling chain 33 into engagement with the left hand edgeof the sheet which thereupon will be carried along the rails III, I5 in the direction of the arrow a, and as stated above brought to the position shown in Figs. l and la. i. e., with the right hand edge thereof closely adjacent the path of travel of the saddle S when the beak 23 of the stitching saddle is in the position shown in Fig. 4. By reason of the normal setting of the pusher fork I2 the moving sheet has passed thereover to attain the position shown in Fig. 1 while the tines of the fork lie closely behind the left hand edge of the sheet. At this moment the rotating cam 38 is in the'position shown in Fig. 1 and in the continued rotation vstop I1.

movement.

thereof the lever I I and pusher fork I2 are moved to the right at a speed which initially increases slowly ,to beyond that of the chain conveyor 33 and then rapidly increases so that the sheet astride the chain conveyor is rst engaged gently by the slowly overtaking pusher fork and then displaced rapidly on to the saddle S and against the The beak 23 of the saddle S acts as a ramp or guide for the advancing sheet so that the right hand edge of the sheet engages th beak prior to the alignment of the apical ridge of the saddle and the ridge of the chain conveyor. In the continued opening movement of the saddle S which is downwards and in an arcuate pathXthe beak 23 sinks proportionately to the advance oly normal or inoperative position. The transferred sheet may be precisely registered against the stop I1v and retained in position by known means (not shown) during the closing movement of the saddle S to the stitching position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The contour of the cam may be formed so that the speedof the pusher fork I2 is checked immediately prior to abutting the sheet against the stop I1 thus to avoid crumpling the sheet edge. .If desired, in place of sheet conveying rollers driven at variable speed the pusher device Il, I2

could be utilized to transfer the sheetsfrom the conveyor chain to the stitching saddle.

The chain conveyor feed of the present invention enables provision readily to bemade of means for applying adhesive to all of the sheets or selected sheets prior'to the feed thereof to the stitching saddle. To this end a mechanical adhesive applying device is incorporated in the machine and as shown in the present construction comprises a pedal actuated device arranged as follows.

An adhesive container I9 is disposed overthe path of travel of sheets placed astride the chain conveyor 33 and'set towards the stitching saddle end of the conveyor (Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5) The conu tainer is supported by a bracket 25 which is secured to the frame member 3|] and projects outwardly therefrom. An adhesive-applying roller 2I is rotatably journalled at the free extremity of an arm 2Ia which is pivotally mounted on the outer side of the container I3 as shown more particularly in Fig. 5. The arm 2 Ia is carried by and pinned to a stub shaft 28a which passes through the container I9 and also carries a -second roller 2li; the latter rotates upon the shaft I9 within A.,

the container and projects through a suitable opening in the lower part of the container so that its periphery engages the periphery of the roller 2'I. Contact of the roller 2l with a sheetcarried upon the chain conveyor 33 causes the former to rotate and in turn rotates the roller so that fresh adhesive from the containerv I9 `is applied to the peripheral edge of the roller 2l in its rotary A bearing sleeve 41. secured to the bracket carries a rotatable stub shaft I8 which has pinned thereto the short arms 49, 50. The arm at its free extremity is linked to a rod 5I which is rigidly secured to the stub shaft 28a #and means for moving 'are rocked to move the arm Zia and roller 2i to and from the chain conveyor. The free extremity of the arm iii is linked by a connecting rod 21 to the treadle arrangement it so that by depressing the treadle the adhesive-applying roller 2i is lowered to contact with a sheet placed upon the chain conveyor 33. Normally the roller 2l is held away from the conveyor chain by means of the helical tension spring 50o. which is secured to the arm 5l] and bearing bracket 25.

The formation of the stitching saddle S with the beak 23 permits the transfer of the sheet from the conveyor chain to the stitching saddle to be extended over a longer period than that during which the saddle rests in the laying-on position. If desired however the sheet feed device of this invention can be used with a saddle of usual shapev in which case the transfer of the sheet will take place only when the conveyor chain and ridge of the stitching saddle are contiguous. Y

From the above description it will be obvious that the sheet feeding device of this invention may be built into a stitching machine as an integral part thereof or alternatively may be built as a separate unit which may either be attached to the stitching machine or established independently and operatively associated therewith.

We claim:

l. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position and a sheet layingon position, comprising a. travelling sheet conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle, and an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said sheet conveyor to said saddle.

2. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position and a sheet layingon position, comprising an endless travelling sheet conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle, and a reciprocatory sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said sheet conveyor to said stitching saddle.

3. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume al` ternately a stitching position and a sheet-laying on position, comprising an endless travelling sheet conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle, sheet-engaging fingers equally spaced along the length of said conveyor, means for driving said conveyor for a distance equal to the pitch of said fingers during stitching cycle of the machine, and an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transthe sheets from said sheet conveyor to said stitching saddle.

i. d sheet feed devicel for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternateiy a stitching position and a sheet-layingon position, comprising a travelling sheet conveyor.` contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle, an auxiliary sheet-displacing member associated with said sheet conveyor, said sheet-displacing member at varying speed so that a sheet engaged said sheet-displacing member is moved from said conveyor and at a suddenly increased speed deposited upon said stitching saddle.

. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position and a sheet layingon position, comprising an endless travelling sheet conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle, Vsheet-engaging ngers equally spaced along the length of said conveyor, means for driving said conveyor for a distance equal to the pitch of said fingers during each stitching cycle of the'machine, an auxiliary sheetdisplacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said sheet conveyor to said stitching saddle, and means for moving said sheet-displacing member at varying speed so that the transfer of the sheet is completed at a suddenly increased speed.

6. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position and a sheet layingon position, comprising a travelling sheet conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle and arranged to advance the sheets towards one extremity of said saddle, a reciprocatory sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said conveyor to said stitching saddle, and means for moving said sheetdisplacing member at varying speed so that the transfer of the sheet is effected at a speed which initially is in excess of that of said conveyor and isV suddenly increased in completing'the transfer.

7. A'sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position and a sheet-layingon position, comprising an endless'chain conveyor set parallel with the stitching saddle and contiguous with the laying-on position thereof, sheet-engaging fingers secured to selected links of said chain, an auxiliary pivotal sheet-displacing member arranged normally to lie beneath the path of ytravel of sheets placed upon said conveyor, and means for swinging said sheet-displacing member about its pivotal axis at varying speed so that said sheet-displacing member engages and transfers a sheet from said conveyor to said stitching saddle at a speed which is suddenly increased to complete the transfer.

8. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a. pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position and a sheet laying-on position, conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle, an auxiliary sheet-displacing device arranged to transfer the sheets from said conveyor to said saddle, and means for applying' adhesive to selected ones of said sheets prior to the transfer thereof to said saddle.

9. A sheet feed device as claimed in claim 8, in which the adhesive applying means comprise a movable adhesive-applying member mounted above the path of the sheets carried upon the conveyor, means for providing said adhesiveapplying member with adhesive, and means for' controlling the movement of said adhesive-applying member so that it contacts with selected sheets.

l0. A sheet-feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal roof-shaped stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position anda sheet layingon position, comprising a travelling chain conveyor having roof-shaped links, a sheet-1 carrying stretch of said conveyor being concomprising a travelling sheetwww) tiguous with the apical ridge of the stitching saddle when .the latter assumes the laying-on position, sheet-engaging fingers mounted upon selected ones of said chain links at equal distance apart, means for driving said chain conveyor for a distance equal to the pitch of said fingers during each stitching cycle of the machine, to advance the sheets towards saidstitching saddle, an auxiliary sheet-displacing member forked to embrace said chain links and normally positioned beneath the path of travel of the sheets carried by said chain, and means for reciprocating said auxiliary sheet-displacing member in an arcuate path of movement so 'that each sheet is transferred from said chain to said saddle at a speed which is rapidly accelerated to complete the transfer.

1l. A sheet feed device as claimed in claim 10, with which is associated means for applying adhesive to selected ones of the sheets, comprising a source of adhesive, an adhesive-applying member positioned above the chain conveyor so as to contact with sheets carried thereon, means for transferring adhesive from said source to said adhesive-applying member, and means for selectively controlling the contact of` said adhesiveapplying member with the sheets.

12. A book-stitching machine which includes a pivotal roof-shaped stitching saddle, means for reciprocating said saddle in anarcuate path of movement to assume alternately a stitching position and a work laying-on position, a travelling sheet-conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle, and arranged to advance the sheets towards said saddle, an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said travelling conveyor to said stitching saddle, and means for actuating said sheet-displacing member so that the transfer of the sheets is finally eEected when said stitching saddle is in the sheet laying-on position. 13. A book-stitching machine which includes a pivotal roof-shaped stitching saddle, means for reciprocating said saddle in an arcuate path of movement to assume alternately a stitching position and a work laying-on position, a travelling sheet-conveyor contiguous with the layingon position of the stitching saddle, and arranged to advance the sheets towards said saddle, an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said travelling conveyor to said stitching saddle, and means for actuating "said sheet-displacing member so that the trans- -fer of the sheets is initiated during the movement of said saddle to the` laying-on position.

le. A book-stitching machine which includes a pivotal roof-shaped stitching saddle having one extremity extended to form a downwardly projecting beak, means for reciprocating said saddle in an arcuate path of movement to assume alternatelya stitching position and a work laya travelling sheet conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the stitching saddle and arranged to advance the sheets towards the extended extremity of said saddle so that the beak of the latter lies beneath the level of the sheets, an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said conveyor to said stitching saddle, and means for actuating said sheet-displacing member so that the sheets are placed upon the saddle beak prior to the arrival of said saddle in the laying-on positlon.

15. A book-stitching machine which includes a pivotal roof-shaped stitching-saddlehaving one extremity extended to forma downwardly pr'o-I jecting beak, meansfor' reciprocating said saddle in an arcuate pathof movement to'assume alternately avstitching-'position and afwork laying-on` position, a travelling sheet conveyor contiguous with the laying-on position of the'stitching saddle, and having one extremity passing beneath thel projecting beak of said stitching saddle, sheet-engaging fingers equally spaced along the length of said conveyor, means for driving said conveyor so that the sheets are advanced towards said stitching saddle, an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said conveyor to said stitching saddle, andmeans for actuating said displacing member so that the speed at which the sheets are displaced is suddenly accelerated in completing the transfer.

16. A book-stitching machine as claimed in claim 15 which includes means for applying adhesive to the sheets prior to the transfer thereof to the stitching saddle, comprising a source of adhesive, an adhesive-applying member positioned above the path of travel of the conveyor and arranged. to contact with selected ones of the sheets carried thereon, means for transferring adhesive from said source to said adhesive-applying member, and means for selectively controlling the contact of said adhesive-applying member with the sheets.

1'7. A sheet feed device for use in a book-stitching machine having a pivotal sheet carrier or stitching saddle which is arranged to assume alternately a stitching position and a sheet layingon position, comprising an endless travelling conveyor contiguous with the work laying-on position of the stitching saddle and having an upper, sheet carrying stretch, deflecting rails vset to either side of the upper sheet-carrying stretch of said conveyor to distend the limbs of folded sheets placed upon said conveyor, sheet-engaging fingers equally spaced along the length of said conveyor,

. means for driving said conveyor to advance the sheets towards one extremity of said saddle, and an auxiliary sheet-displacing member arranged to transfer the sheets from said conveyor to said stitching saddle. V

18. A book-stitching apparatus comprising, in combination, a machine frame, a stitcher head supported by said frame, a roof-shaped stitching saddle pivotally mounted in said frame, an adjustable sheet stop mounted upon said saddle, means for imparting movement to said stitching saddle so that it assumes alternately a closed or stitching position beneath said stitcher head and anopen or work laying-on position, a sheet feed device comprising chain sprockets mounted in vertical alignment, an endless conveyor chain passing round said sprockets to provide an upper sheet-carrying stretch one end of which is closely adjacent one extremity of said stitching saddle, sheet-engaging fingers equally spaced along said conveyor chain, means for driving said chain so that the sheets thereon are advanced during each stitching cycle of the machine for a distance equal to the spacing of said sheetengaging members, pivotally mounted auxiliary sheet-displacing member forked to embrace said chain, and means for imparting movement to said sheet-displacing member so that it engages each sheet carried by said conveyor and then at a rapidly increased speed transfers the sheet to abut said stop upon said stitching saddle.

19. In combination with the book-stitching apparatus claimed in claim 18, means for applying adhesive to the sheets carried by the conery of said adhesive-applying wheel, and means veyor, comprising an adhesive container set above for rocking said adhesive-applying wheel selecsaid conveyor, an adhesive-applying wheel cartively to contact it with sheets carried by said ried by said container and arranged to contact conveyor. 5 its periphery with the sheet carried by said f OSCAR KLEINSCHMIT. 5

conveyor, an intermediate member arranged to WALTER GEISSLER. feed adhesive from said container to the periph- 

